Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) always wanted to be a pilot and travel. He is given the opportunity to own his own business if he works for the CIA taking photographs of Central American and South American rebel forces. It soon leads to him running cocaine for Pablo Escobar and guns to the Contras in Nicaragua. The Contras don't care about fighting a war against the Sandistas in power because they just want to make money and some run off when they get to the USA. Barry becomes a millionaire overnight as he has more money than he can launder or even hide. It brings the DEA, ATF, and State Police to monitor him and lead Barry getting involved with Colonel Oliver North.

AMERICAN MADE is based on the true life story of anti-hero rebel pilot Barry Seal and prove that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. Director Doug Liman recreates the time of the 1980s from a script that blends humor and history in a well cast movie where Tom Cruise pulls off a lovable performance of a pilot who ends up over his head in pursuit of the American Dream.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Six deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Doug Liman. The audio commentary reveals the script originally focused more on Barry and his relationship with the people of the small town of Mena, Arkansas. These scenes were cut for time and focus.

There are also a series of featurettes on the film (and the real Barry Seal) that run between 4 to 7 minutes each. They have interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and clips from the movie:
AMERICAN STORYTELLERS- a focus on the story and development of AMERICNA MADE
CRUISE & LIMAN: A CONVERSATION- Tom Cruise and Doug Liman talk about their collaborative process in addition to renting a house together with the writer of the movie (and how they did chores) and even used the house as a set for the house of Barry Seal in the movie
IN THE WINGS- a featurette on the cast and characters of AMERICAN MADE
SHOOTING AMERICAN MADE- a focus on the making of the movie including using the above mentioned rented house as a set and finding a small town to match the look of Mena, Arkansas
FLYING HIGH- the guerilla filmmaking approach to shooting the flying scenes where Tom Cruise was his own pilot and stunt pilot for the movie
THE REAL BARRY SEAL- son Aaron Seal talks about his father Barry Seal and the featurette is illustrated with family photos and home video

Also included in this combo pack is the movie in standard definition on DVD and a code to download and/or stream a copy of the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: AMERICNA MADE is an enjoyable tale about the American Dream and a man getting over his head. Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction in one of the better true story movies made in recent years that continue the great collaboration between star Tom Cruise and Doug Liman. This movie has a great blend of humor, action, and history. The extras are OK even though a little too brief.

This initial review is ©1-28-2018 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

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